Easel-support for books



(No Model.)

W. A. H'OLMAN.

EASBL SUPPORT FOR BOOKS, 6w.

Patented Nov. 1 0, 1896,-

I nve ntor. v

Witnesses.

Attorney.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM A. HOLMAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

EASEL-SUPPORT FOR BOOKS, 840.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 571,045, dated November 10, 1896. Application filed August 19, 1896. Serial No. 603,189. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LWILLIAM A. HOLMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Easel-Supports for Books, &c., of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, forming a part of this speci fication.

My invention relates to easel-supports for albums or other books, pictures, and the like, and has for its object to provide an easelframe of improved construction which may be folded flat or closed up when not in use or when packed for transportation, the basal or supporting and connecting piece being in the form of a box which rests in an inclined po sition normally and is preferably provided with a drawer for pictures and with convenient-means for hanging a book or pictureframe upon its upright supports.

To these ends my invention consists of the combination, with a main upright supporting member or frame, of anormally-inclined baserest, preferably in the form of a box, said parts being pivotally connected by a doublepivotcd curved link-arm between them,a stop pin to limit the movement of the link-arm, and a pair of pivoted link-arms further con-- necting the base-support at its rear with the upper portion of the main member or frame.

In the drawings illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved easel-support. Fig. 2 is a front view thereof; and Fig. 3 is a side view with the easel folded up, the lower side of the box being upward when the parts are inthat position and illustrating the ready adaptability of the, parts to lie fiat and be thus packed for transportation.

The easel-support consists of a main member or frame composed of a metallic rod bent to form two supporting-legs A A, the top or connecting portion of which may be bent inwardly, as at A to form a convenient and suitable means whereon to hang a pictureframe by the usual cord on its rear side or an album or book by a pivoted handle or arm of the character described in my prior Letters Patent, No. 550,322, dated November 26, 1895,

and indicated at B in the drawings thereof. As the bent portion A of the main frame of the easel forms a hook upon which the picture or book is to be suspended by its cord, (or by its arm B, shown in said Patent No. 550,322,) the picture or book is firmly supported thereby, and hence it is not necessary or even desirable that the cover edge of the book or the base edge of the picture should rest on the box or base-support of the easelframe.

At or near the basal end of the frame-legs A A is provided a pair of curved links E E, one on each side, one end of the link being pivoted to the leg A at E and the other end to the base-support or box 0 at E This base-support is a rectangular structure so arranged relatively to the easel-legs as to be normally inclined, as shown in Fig. 1, and is preferably in the form of a box with an outwardly-sliding drawer 0 intended to hold pictures and the like.

It will be observed that the incline of' the main frame is regulated by a stop-pin F, secured t0 the sides of the box, which pin limits the upward movement of the link E, while an offset E on the link limits its downward movement by its contacting with the opposite side of the pin F when the easel-frame is closed and lies flat, as shown in Fig. 3. To further strengthen and aid in supporting the easel-frame in true position, there is provided another pair of link-arms DD, one end of each of which is pivoted in the main frame at D and at the other end to the box or basesupport at D It is obvious that the construction shown and described makes a strong and durable easel-frame for heavy books or pictures, and that in principle of construction of its mechanical operative parts is a decided improvement over easel-frames of this character heretofore made and sold, its essential novel feature being the doubly-pivoted links E between the basal end of the main frame and sides of the box or base-support at or about the longitudinal center thereof, with the means de- Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An easel-support comprising a main member or frame having supporting-legs and a normally-inclined base-support adapted to be pivotally swung between them, in combination with a pair of link-arms arranged one on each side of the base-support and pivoted at one end to the legs of the main frame near the basal end thereof and at the other end to the side of the base-support near the center thereof, with means to limit the partial rotation of said link-arm in either direction; substantially as described.

2. An easel-support comprising in combination a main member or frame having legs A A, a normally-inclined base-support O; a pair of link-arms E E, pivotally arranged at one end to the side of the base-support and at the other end to legs of the supportingframe, the links being provided with offsets E and the box with a stop-pin F; said parts being combined and operating substantially as and for the purposes described.

An easel-support comprising in combination a main frame provided With legs A A, a normally-inclined box or base-support O, and a pair of doubly-pivoted links E between the lower ends of the main frame and the sides of the base-support, means to limit the movement of the said link-arms in both directions, and a pair of rear link-arms D pivotally connecting the main frame at or about its center, With the base-support at or near its rear end; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 10th day of August, A. D. 1896.

VILLIAM A. HOLMAN.

\Vitnesses GEO. W. CLEMENT, H. T. FENTON. 

